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06 August 2021 / Veronica Cowan
Issue: 7944 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Online insurance fraud—role of lawyers

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Veronica Cowan reports on lawyers who turn detective to investigate fraud claims
  • Online processing of insurance claims has increased the scope for fraud.
  • Law firms are playing a role in fraud investigation.

As more insurance claims are dealt with online, the scope for fraud must surely increase. For example, a motor claimant involved in a smash and crash type claim must find it easier to file a false image of car damage or of the terrain of a supposed crash with a web cam than with original documentation. And it’s not just motor vehicles, as household and business premises’ fire and flood claims can be fabricated in several creative ways. And that’s before one even considers complex commercial insurance scams. Is there a role for law firms to investigate some of the trickier claims on behalf of insurers, and have they got sufficient technological know-how to perform that role?

Loss adjusting

Traditionally, loss adjusters are appointed by insurance companies to investigate claims. Depending on the size and type of

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